MANSFIELD. PA (March 27, 2010) – The Kutztown University baseball team earned a split of its road doubleheader at Mansfield University, winning the first game, 10-2, and dropping the second game, 6-3. Shayne Houck had three hits and Nathan Reed tossed six innings to earn the victory in the opener. (GAME 1 BOXSCORE) (GAME 2 BOXSCORE)

The Golden Bears record moved to 15-6 overall and 4-4 in the PSAC East. Mansfield is now 10-6 overall and 4-2 in the conference, which is tied for Shippensburg in second place.

Reed whirled a gem, striking out five and scattering only three hits. The only blemish came in the third inning when the Mountaineers plated their only two runs on a Kevin Miller double to center. Reed then retired the next seven batters before Miller doubled again in the sixth. The senior lefthander got his revenge though, picking Miller off of second before getting a groundout in his final inning of work.

The offense scored in bunches with five runs in the third inning, three in the fourth and two in the sixth.

Cody Montz was hit by a pitch to begin the third and advanced to two bases on a Mike Kacelowicz single. Houck recorded his first of four RBIs with a single up the middle. James Quigley drove home Kacelowicz with a single and two batters later Jared Frey ripped an RBI double to right.

Montz again was the fire starter in the fifth with a single to left followed by Gilbert Vega (Lancaster, PA/J.P. McCaskey) who wore a pitch. Kacelowicz dropped a sacrifice bunt to set the table for Houck's two run double to leftfield. Quigley ripped a double down the leftfield line to score Houck.

The Golden Bears had a power surge in the sixth, with a leadoff home run by Jeff Kistle and Houck smacked a homer to left two batters later.

In the nightcap setback, Bryan Wilde kept the potent Golden Bear lineup in check through the first six innings. In the final frame KU finally showed some life when Houck hit a three run shot over the fence in left to plate Brett Wigder, who singled to start the inning, and Frey.

Trevor Rosenberg took the loss despite his solid five innings of work. He only allowed two runners to cross the plate, while striking out six.

The teams will do battle again on Sunday afternoon with the doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. on North Campus Field.

--KU--